Best and worst of the BCS swagathon

It’s no secret that while college football players don’t get paid, they are often the recipients of enormous amounts of swag. This is never more evident than during the late December/early January Bowl Championship Series games.

Companies of almost every type of product imaginable attempt to simultaneously get the free publicity involved in very publicly giving away items to all players participating in college bowl games and earn brand loyalty from a few athletes who, after making it to the NFL, are going to get very wealthy and very famous.

Although most of these college athletes follow the correct script and say things like “We’re grateful for any and every gift we receive for participating,” or “I just want to play football,” quite a few of them are probably thinking, “If we could just get invited to this bowl, we’d all get free flat screen televisions!”

So we put together a list comprised of a few of the best and worst swag items offered for participating in a particular BCS game. Browse through and tell us which bowl game you’d most want to play in!

WORST: While many of the Bowl's are giving some great luggage items–backpacks by Nike and Oakley–but the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl is giving all players a rolling luggage bag (known in NCAAF circles as the epitome of cool) as well as quite a bit of "Gator Gear."

Image 1 of 8 - The best and worst of the BCS Swagathon

WORST: While many of the Bowl's are giving some great luggage items–backpacks by Nike and Oakley–but the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl is giving all players a rolling luggage bag (known in NCAAF circles as the epitome of cool) as well as quite a bit of "Gator Gear."

WORST: While many of the Bowl's are giving some great luggage...items–backpacks by Nike and Oakley–but the TaxSlayer.com Gator...Bowl is giving all players a rolling luggage bag (known in NCAAF...circles as the epitome of cool) as well as quite a bit of "Gator...Gear."

Image 2 of 8|The best and worst of the BCS Swagathon

BEST: Nike, New Era, and Oakley are all apparently hoping that by supplying college players with free gear now, they are ensuring brand loyalty and free publicity after these players become NFL stars. Hats, shoes, and clothes by one of these three companies are given out at nearly every bowl game.

Image 2 of 8 - The best and worst of the BCS Swagathon

BEST: Nike, New Era, and Oakley are all apparently hoping that by supplying college players with free gear now, they are ensuring brand loyalty and free publicity after these players become NFL stars. Hats, shoes, and clothes by one of these three companies are given out at nearly every bowl game.

BEST: Nike, New Era, and Oakley are all apparently hoping that by...supplying college players with free gear now, they are ensuring brand...loyalty and free publicity after these players become NFL stars. Hats,...shoes, and clothes by one of these three companies are given out at...nearly every bowl game.

Image 3 of 8|The best and worst of the BCS Swagathon

BEST: Among the digital gifts, R+L Carriers is giving away Samsung Galaxy tablets (pictured here). Best of the best, however, goes to the Military Bowl for handing out both Amazon Kindle Fires and iPod Nanos.

Image 3 of 8 - The best and worst of the BCS Swagathon

BEST: Among the digital gifts, R+L Carriers is giving away Samsung Galaxy tablets (pictured here). Best of the best, however, goes to the Military Bowl for handing out both Amazon Kindle Fires and iPod Nanos.

BEST: Among the digital gifts, R+L Carriers is giving away Samsung...Galaxy tablets (pictured here). Best of the best, however, goes to the...Military Bowl for handing out both Amazon Kindle Fires and iPod Nanos....